Legal luminaries seek transgender database

CHENNAI: Databases on transgenders should be compiled at national and state levels to effectively formulate schemes for the community, said legal luminaries here on Saturday. They also stressed on the need for a law on the lines of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 1989, to prevent atrocities against transgenders.

Delivering the inaugural address at a national seminar on “Issues relating to Transgender Community”, Supreme Court judge P Sathasivam delved on the need to understand transgenders, their right to be different from others and their right to seek protection against the label of despised sexuality.

“No space for identification is provided for transgenders who identify as neither male nor female.

Such a human right does not exist in India. This leads to their complete isolation from the very fabric of Indian society,” Sathasivam said.

“We cannot eradicate discrimination unless transgenders are legally recognised, thereby giving them access to medical and administrative rights,” he said.

Hailing Tamil Nadu for taking steps to officially recognise transgenders as a separate sex, he said separate columns should be provided to include the third gender in all government forms.

Supreme Court judge Dalveer Bhandari stressed on the need to form transgender database at national and state levels through a survey or through the ongoing census. “Unless we have the their exact numbers, no scheme can be effectively formulated,” he said.

Bhandari urged the government to consider introduction of learning and earning programme, where transgenders would get education notwithstanding their age. He also sought a pension plan and housing scheme through easy instalments for the community.

Supreme Court judge Altamas Kabir asked society to change its view on transgenders. “They too have rights. Help them to attain it,” he told the audience.

Social Welfare Minister and chairperson of Tamil Nadu Transgenders Welfare Board Geetha Jeevan spoke about welfare schemes initiated by Tamil Nadu Government for transgenders.

Chief Justice of Madras High Court M Y Eqbal, Chief secretary Sripathi, High Court judge Dharma Rao and judicial as well as police officers were present.